### 272

The ladder is torn from Anseng’s grasp by the shuddering rise and fall of the stricken skyship. You cling desperately to the saturated ropes, your stomach churning with every sudden swerve and violent jolt. Then a fearsome bolt of lightning hits the stern of the skyship and propels it away from the clearing. Momentarily, you are blinded and stunned by the raw power of the blast (lose 2 ENDURANCE points). As you struggle to recover, you sense that the ladder is swinging dangerously close to the tops of the surrounding toa trees. Below, you glimpse the light of Anseng’s lantern moving across the clearing as he chases after the loose trailing end of the rope ladder. Again the skyship is struck by lightning and this time it lists heavily to starboard. The ropes are wrenched from your grasp as the ladder whips towards the canopy of the trees, sending you tumbling and crashing through the dense canopy of toa fronds.

If you possess the Grand Master Discipline of Kai-Alchemy, and have attained the rank of Sun Thane (or higher), turn to 79.

If you do not possess this Discipline, or if you have yet to attain the required rank, turn instead to 123.